Extension

The Extension Division is responsible for providing technical assistance to commercial and backyard farmers, schools and farmer groups in all aspects of crop production. It also provides weekly and monthly crop forecasting information and evaluates all requests for concession. The division also works closely with Banking Institutions, Non Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), Allied Agencies and government departments in the provision of information requested.

The Extension Division is currently staffed by a Chief Extension Officer, three (3) officers and a Secretary. The division operates in three (3) districts. They are Brown Hill to New River Estate; Butlers to Nisbett Settlement and New Castle to Prospect Estate.

Name

Email Address

Area of Responsibility

Position

Contact Number

Walcott James

walcottjames@hotmail.com

Chief Extension Officer

+1-869-669-6094

Reuben Vyphius

reuben.vyphuis@yahoo.com

Prospect – New River and Indian Castle Estate

Senior Extension Officer

+1-869-661-0135
+1-869-762-5005

Brandon Frederick

brandon_optimumkid@hotmail.com

Potworks, Buttlers – Nisbett and Potworks Estate

Assistant Extension Officer

+1-869-664-0009

Kyron Phillips

kyron_phillip@hotmail.com

Cades Bay – Prospect. Cades Bay Taiwan Experimental Station

Assistant Extension Officer

+1-869-668-2363

Sasha Hanley

brownskin_56@hotmail.com

Secretary

+1-869-663-1267

The Department of Agriculture carries out crop production activities on five (5) of the estates that it owns. Each estate focuses on a different aspect of production. These estates together total 63 acres and they are used for the production of import substitution crops, demonstrations, trials, training facilities for students, farmers, extension officers and members of the general public. The estates are also prime producers of crops for the Agro-processing Unit, Hospital, the Social Services Department (seniors feeding program) and others. All estates are open to the public from 7:00am- 12 noon with the exception of Prospect Experimental Station (7:00am- 3:00pm).

PROSPECT EXPERIMENTAL STATION:

Situated at Prospect Industrial Site and comprises of 10 acres or prime land. The estate is home to the Plant Propagation Unit, Fruit Tree Orchard (5 acres), two greenhouse structures on an estimated 10153 sq. ft. or 943.25m2 and 4 acres of vegetable production. This outreach station is primarily geared towards technology transfer through demonstration, training, field visits and trials. The station was home to the Agriculture Open Day for nine years.

INDIAN CASTLE ESTATE:

This estate has been in production since 2007 from which some 30 acres of lands have been prepared for agricultural diversification. This has included 25 acres of cotton. In its continued food security thrust, the department in 2014 took the decision to diversify from that challenging crop to the production of a variety of crops such as cassava, sweet potato, pumpkin, watermelon and butternut squash.

NEW RIVER ESTATE:

Work on this estate is carried out alongside a number of private farmers. The department occupies seven acres from two locations (upper and lower New River). The estate has been in production for a number of years with a wide range of crops. From cotton, the main focus has been shifted to onions. A fruit tree orchard has also been established there. A coconut nursery was established there in 2014 to jump start a coconut replanting programme on the island. New River is now home to the cotton ginnery which was relocated there several years ago.

POTWORKS ESTATE:

Conspicuously situated at the main entrance of the Medical University of the Americas, Potworks is comprised of 10 acres ad is believed to possess some of the best farming soils on the island. It has been in operation for a number of years and crop diversification has also been taking place there as the movement away from cotton continues. It was the first estate on the island to have commercial production of cassava. Other crops produced at Potworks include sweet corn, watermelon, sweet potato and onion. To date, it has become the Department’s largest onion producer as efforts continue to reach a target of 10 acres of this crop in the near future. Demonstrations and farmer training are also done at Potworks.

CADES BAY ESTATE:

Once home to the Republic of China on Taiwan Mission outreach center, the department now manages the daily activities at the Cades Bay farm. This estate is located in St. Thomas’ parish and occupies 5 acres of land. The property consists mainly of a training center, nursery area, a mixed fruit tree orchard, and vegetable production area. The Cades Bay farm assists in the transfer of technology to farmers. It also serves as a germplasm bank for numerous fruit tree varieties.